BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. The UN Special
Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Cities Forum is
taking place in Baku as part of the 13th session of the World Urban
Forum (WUF13), Trend
reports.
The forum’s discussions focus on three interrelated themes based
on the practical realities of SPECA cities and reflecting the
overarching theme of WUF13, “Housing for Peace: Safe and
Sustainable Cities and Communities.”
The first theme addresses affordable housing in the context of
rapid urbanization. It is noted that urban growth in SPECA
countries continues to outpace housing supply. In this regard,
measures to bridge the gap will be examined, including regulatory
reform, public-private partnerships, social housing programs,
land-use policies, and the rehabilitation of industrial sites, as
well as the potential for regional cooperation.
The second theme covers issues of climate resilience and energy
efficiency in the housing sector. It is emphasized that a
significant portion of the housing stock in SPECA countries was
built before the introduction of modern energy and seismic
standards. Participants will discuss building retrofits, the
adoption of “green” building standards, and the integration of
climate risk assessment into urban development processes and
housing investments.
The third topic focuses on “smart” urban approaches to housing
management. It explores the potential of digital planning,
e-services, and integrated management systems for regulating
housing markets and improving the quality of urban services. The
institutional framework for implementing “smart city” technologies
in SPECA countries will also be discussed.
Will be updated
